第78部分 (第5/9页)

d　firmly　under　her　weight。

She　was　aware　of　him　as　if　in　a　mesmeric　state。　In　her

ordinary　sense；　she　had　nothing　to　do　with　him。　But　the　peculiar

ease　and　unnoticeableness　of　his　entering　the　house；　the　power

of　his　cold；　gleaming　light　on　her　when　he　looked　at　her；　was

like　a　bewitchment。　In　his　eyes；　as　in　the　pale　grey　eyes　of　a

goat；　there　seemed　some　of　that　steady；　hard　fire　of　moonlight

which　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　day。　It　made　her　alert；　and　yet

her　mind　went　out　like　an　extinguished　thing。　She　was　all

senses；　all　her　senses　were　alive。

Then　she　saw　him　on　Sunday；　dressed　up　in　Sunday　clothes；

trying　to　impress　her。　And　he　looked　ridiculous。　She　clung　to

the　ridiculous　effect　of　his　stiff；　Sunday　clothes。

She　was　always　conscious　of　some　unfaithfulness　to　Maggie；　on

Anthony's　score。　Poor　Maggie　stood　apart　as　if　betrayed。　Maggie

and　Anthony　were　enemies　by　instinct。　Ursula　had　to　go　back　to

her　friend　brimming　with　affection　and　a　poignancy　of　pity。

Which　Maggie　received　with　a　little　stiffness。　Then　poetry　and

books　and　learning　took　the　place　of　Anthony；　with　his　goats'

movements　and　his　cold；　gleaming　humour。

While　Ursula　was　at　Belcote；　the　snow　fell。　In　the　morning；　a

covering　of　snow　weighed　on　the　rhododendron　bushes。

〃Shall　we　go　out？〃　said　Maggie。

She　had　lost　some　of　her　leader's　sureness；　and　w